Polar Bears, Cape Churchill, Canada, November 2007

This was an 11 day trip that included 7 nights at the Tundra Buggy Lodge at Cape Churchill, booked through www.tundrabuggy.com, Nov 18-28, 2007. I expected it to be very cold at that time of year, but it was much colder than I expected and wind chill made it even worse when out on the open deck or if the wind was blowing at your window. My boots were rated to -25 degrees C. I figure on one or two days it warmed up to that point! Even in the heated buggy, the floor was very cold. The parkas provided by Canada Goose for their 50th anniversary were very warm, but keeping hands and feet warm was another matter. Hand and feet warming packs were used by many. However, it was well worth the cold to see these magnificent animals in the wild and close up!

Congratulations. You took many wonderful images. I only hope to get something like yours. I let my comment here four years ago. Well, this year I am scgeduled to be there. We will see. Your images still impress me a lot!

Outstanding gallery and fantastic images. Big Vote. The Tundra Buggy Tour Company looks to be very sensitive to the welfare of the bears and the visitors seem to appreciate the beauty of these creatures. I'm sure they would not want to endanger the bear's environment or way of life. Tundra Buggy's website states that this trip is really for very experienced photographers who have the means ($11K per person) and equipment to do the polar bears justice in capturing their beauty in such a desolate landscape. AE Campbell should find something else to complain about. Great job, John.

ss

26-Mar-2009 12:36

I am back looking at polar bears. Yours are the best at pbase. Some could be published. I am thinkinking of publishing a book on wildlife. And your polar bear images are of such quality. I would be VERY happy to get similar quality.

Frontiers North, the parent company of the tour is a Canadian company that has received numerous enviromental awards, and the Nunavut Tourism Award of Excellence. They are also heavily involved in Polar Bears International, a non-profit organization dedicated to the worldwide conservation of polar bears. They strive to educate people about the plight of the polar bear. Also, Churchill is not a "traditional Indian village". It is a port city with rail, ship and air access. It is the site of a large military base. The second photo in my gallery shows the main street in town.

AE Campbell

19-Aug-2008 01:57

No doubt about it, the pictures are first class. The only concern I have is why U.S. tourist companies are running these profit making trips into Churchill - a traditional Indian village. What benefit accrues to the local people and to the bears?? The pictures of them examining the buggies shows that they are curious about this intrusion into their space. Why can we not leave them alone in their wilderness. Why do we have to intrude on their space to get a prize winning photo. Use your imagination.

AECampbell

George Tarkan

12-Aug-2008 09:57

John: Your photos are absolutely phenomenal! Top of the line. Worthy of National Geographic!